Chloe Mitchell: Human remains confirmed as missing 21-year-old as man charged with murder

Human remains found in Ballymena earlier this month were those of missing 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, police have confirmed.

Ms Mitchell was last seen by her family on the evening of Friday 2 June and was captured on CCTV in the early hours of the following morning in Ballymena town centre. Detectives launched a murder inquiry earlier this month after suspected human remains were found on 11 June.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar said: “The identification process on human remains found in Ballymena has now concluded and have been confirmed as those of Chloe Mitchell.”

A funeral service will be held in her Ballymena home at noon on Thursday (29 June), which will be livestreamed on Facebook and on a large screen in King George Harryville Park. Alan Francey Funeral Services said Ms Mitchell would be “lovingly remembered and sadly missed by the entire family circle”. Vigils to remember the 21-year-old were held in her home town and in Belfast earlier this month.

Two men have appeared in court on charges connected to the death of Ms Mitchell. Brandon John Rainey, 26, from James Street in Ballymena, is charged with murder while Ryan Johnston Gordon, 34, from Nursery Close, Ballymena, is charged with assisting an offender.

Mr Rainey appeared via video link at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court where he was charged with murdering Ms Mitchell between 2 and 5 June, and was remanded in custody until 6 July, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said.

Mr Gordon has also appeared in court charged with attempting to impede justice by concealing evidence around the alleged murder of Ms Mitchell. He was remanded into custody following the brief mention at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court.

Detectives investigating Ms Mitchell’s disappearance launched a murder inquiry on Sunday (11 June) after suspected human remains were found in Ballymena. Forensic officers attended a flat in the James Street area of Ballymena to investigate after the property had been cordoned off by police earlier in the week.

The discovery came after extensive searches across Ballymena which saw members of the Community Rescue Service (CRS) assist police in the major search operation.

In a statement earlier this month, the volunteer-based organisation said: “The CRS would like to thank the people of Ballymena, those who live and work in the Harryville area and especially Chloe’s family and friends for their exceptional support during our operations.”

In an earlier statement after the suspected human remains were found, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: “Sadly, today detectives have recovered suspected human remains in Ballymena, and while there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who was a high-risk, missing person.

“Earlier this week, we launched a criminal investigation into Chloe’s disappearance. Tragically, we now have reason to believe that Chloe was murdered. Our thoughts this evening are very much with Chloe’s family and we have specialist officers providing them with support at this heart-breaking time.”

Mr Millar added: “I would like to thank the community in Ballymena and the search and rescue teams for their help in trying to find Chloe.”